Report: 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick will opt out of final year of deal

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 18: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 18, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) less

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 18: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 18, 2016 in Atlanta, ... more

Photo: Scott Cunningham, Getty Images

Photo: Scott Cunningham, Getty Images

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 18: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 18, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) less

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 18: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 18, 2016 in Atlanta, ... more

Photo: Scott Cunningham, Getty Images

Report: 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick will opt out of final year of deal

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INDIANAPOLIS - Colin Kaepernick has new agents and those representatives will help him navigate free agency for the first time in his six-year career.

As expected, the 49ers quarterback will opt out of the final year of his contract, which will place him on the open market when free agency begins March 9, the NFL Network reported. Kaepernick is now represented by Jeff Nalley and Sean Kiernan after leaving XAM Sports.

Kaepernick, 29, can officially opt out as early as Thursday. The move was expected given his recent performance and scheduled $14.5 million base salary in 2017. The 49ers would have likely released Kaepernick if he didn’t opt out.

Kaepernick’s decision doesn’t rule out a return to the 49ers in 2017.

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick gave away his massive shoe collection to benefit the homeless in San Francisco.

Media: Brandpoint

Last week, he met with 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan at the team facility. Lynch said all parties left excited after they visited in his office.

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And all parties must keep their options open. It’s not known how much interest Kaepernick will attract in free agency and the 49ers don’t have many options on their current roster. Their other three quarterbacks, Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder and Thad Lewis, are scheduled to become free agents.

The 49ers have been expected to explore trading for Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins and New England quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. However, Washington and New England are not inclined to trade those QBs, according to national reports.